Boxing manager Frank Maloney has sent shockwaves round the world of boxing after announcing that he is now living as a woman named Kellie.

But is it the biggest ever shocker? From wacky fights to bizarre interviews, the world of pugilism has seen it all.

Here are eight of the most unexpected events in the sport's storied history.

Cassius Clay converts to Islam and becomes Muhammad Ali

In 1964 the young pretty Cassius Clay won the world heavyweight championship from aging ring veteran Sonny Liston. For a 22-year-old to dance round the champ with such ease was a shock - what follows was a bigger shock. The young champion announced he was joining the Nation of Islam and changing his name to Muhammad Ali.

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Mike Tyson says he wants to eat Lennox Lewis' kids

Following one fight, a dazed and confused Mike Tyson tells Lennox Lewis: "I want your heart, I'll eat your children. Praise be to Allah." Their fight on June 8, 2002, didn't quite go as Tyson planned as Lewis dominated match and knocked him out in the eighth round with a right hook.

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Frank Bruno sleeps in a boxing ring in his back garden

While battling depression, one of Britain's best loved boxers even found himself sleeping in his back garden in a boxing ring. The former heavyweight champion told the Mirror: "Being sectioned was the best thing that ever happened to me. Getting put in hospital meant I could stop, get myself sorted and come back stronger. Up until that point I wouldn’t surrender, I wouldn’t give in. Now I don’t feel ashamed to say ‘yes, I needed help’.”

Muhammad Ali has the world's first MMA bout

Undisputed boxing champion Muhammad Ali challenged any wrestler in Japan to meet him in a fight, and the invitation was accepted by Japanese champion Antonio Inoki. The build up to the fight was dramatic with loudmouth Ali telling his opponent there "would be no Pearl Harbour". Backstage however things were taking a dark turn. Reports suggest the fight was originally supposed to be a fix, ending in a draw so both men could save face. Then Inoki insisted they would fight for real.

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After seeing Inoki flinging sparring partners around, Ali's camp insisted that the wrestler should be prohibited from throws and slams which severely limited his arsenal. Inoki spent almost all of the 15 rounds lying on his back peppering Ali's shins with kicks in the hope the boxer would grapple with him. Ali remained standing in the hope the wrestler would engage him with strikes. After 15 rounds of little action, it was declared a draw and the usually well-behaved Japanese fans bombarded the ring with rubbish and nobody bothered to try and invent MMA again for 20 years.

George Foreman makes a comeback 20 years after losing the title

In 1974, George Foreman lost the world heavyweight title to Ali in the famous Rumble in the Jungle. He then became a godlike figure to fans of the ham and cheese toastie with his patented George Foreman grill. Angry, menacing George had become chubby, lovable George. So when he challenged heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in 1991 few expected the bout to be more than a massacre. Foreman went the distance and even rocked the champion in the seventh.

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Considering Foreman's comeback was worthy of a Rocky Balboa storyline, it was apt that in 1993 he faced Tommy Morrison AKA the Italian Stallion's nemesis Tommy "the machine" Gunn for the vacant WBO championship. Again Foreman went the distance and, the following year, he challenged Michael Moorer for the more prestigious WBA and IBF straps. Foreman knocked out his opponent in the 10th round and became the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history, 19 years after first holding the belt.

Ali is stripped of the title for refusing to fight in Vietnam

In 1967, three years after winning the title from Sonny Liston and converting to Islam, Muhammad Ali refused the draft into the army claiming: "I ain't got no quarrel with the Viet Cong." He was found guilty of draft evasion, fined $10,000 and stripped of his world championship and boxing license. In 1971 he was reinstated and had a legendary 15 round clash with Joe Frazier in Madison Square Garden and the Supreme Court ruled in his favour and reversed the raft-evasion conviction.

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Our 'Enery is "cheated" out of victory by a glove tamper

Compared to the technically gifted Ali, British favourite Henry Cooper didn't stand much of a chance. But he did have one thing in his favour - "Enery's Ammer", his ability to deliver a thunderous wallop. As predicted, The Greatest assaulted Cooper with jabs but then the British champ knocked down the World titlist with his 'Ammer. Scared that his fighter was going down, it is claimed that Ali's cornerman Angelo Dundee bought extra time between rounds by ripping the champ's glove.

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While the glove was repaired, Ali got his breath back and later won the match. Sir Henry, knighted in 2000 said: "They did the business on the glove. I've had dinner with him [Dundee] a couple of times since then and he's openly admitted it."

The bell went ding, I went dong

As soon as the bell rings for the start of a round a boxer must be ready to defend themselves. In a 1987 fight, however, Johnny Bumphus took his time getting off his stool as he coach stepped out of the ring. His opponent Lloyd Honeyghan sprinted over and laid into his opponent before he could properly get to his feet. Criticised for jumping his opponent in an un-gentlemanly fashion, Honeyghan responded: "The bell went ding, I went dong!"